Oldest Military Blogger Recalls

Oldest Military Blogger Reflects

After finishing my Basic Training at Indiantown Gap PA,

and having settled into my new Quarters with the 301st

Port Co., an event took place that at the time was very

uplifting for my morale.

My Father,who had gone to work on the West Coast for

Kiaser Corp., constructing Liberty Ships for the Merchant Mariners,

dropped in for a visit when his train stopped in Harrisburg, PA.

He left after having lunch in our mess hall but regretted

being unable to stay for dinner because he was anxious to be

on his way home to my Mother and 4 children.

Many, years later, waking from a Dream, I walked into

my kitchen at Four A.M.,sat down in my underwear at the kitchen table,

and composed the following ....

My Father Loves Me!

On Feb. 14th 1995, I had an insight that was quite remarkable

to me, that after 52 years I realized that My Father Loved Me ....Very Much!

It was the afternoon of Oct. 1943...I was in the Army, stationed

in Indiantown Gap PA....An Orderly came to tell me tat my Father was

on the Base and that the Orderly had been instructed to bring me to

Battalion Headquarters in his Jeep, because Civilians had to be detained

for security reasons until a uniformed escort could be provided to accompany

and permit Civilians on the base...It was explained to me that the visitor was

in the company of Master Sargent Charles Hart awaiting my arrival

at the Sargent's office.

During the ride I had the most agonizing thoughts, trying to understand

the reason for this unexpected and unusual circumstance of allowing,

personal visitors who were only pemitted on weekends for enlisted men....

but the ride was short and when we arrived, we were told that the First Sargent

had taken my Father to the Mess Hall and we were to meet them there.

As I turned to look toward the Mess Hall, from where I stood I could

see the the enlisted men's Chow Line 200 feet away and outstanding was

the dark blue outfit among the olive drab in the line restlessly waiting.

The brown fedora and the blue figure's posture

identified this person as my Pop....and I ran toward him....he turnrned to see

where the shouting was coming from and saw me running...

he left the line and came in my direction

When we met there was a very awkward moment, of no embrace,

no hugging or kissing......just some macho back slapping and hand shaking..

and I remember that wonderful smile on his face announcing to me

that he was not a bearer of bad news.

The thing of it is, for over 50 years until tonight, I didn't make any sense

out of the look in his eyes.

They saw me with sparkling admiration and good humor, tearful pride

and concern,a careful appraisal from head to toe and with

what I understand now, as, Much Love......The kind of Love I hope my Children

can see and apprise, when they notice me looking at them, Now.

The kind of look I had seen in my Mother's eyes many times,knowing what

that admiration was all about, but strangely, I never equated that thought

with my Dad. Evidently, we do get Wise as we Age.

I still have the original hand scripted page from 1995.

I share this with you now because I was 21 years of age then

without the awareness of all that was going on around me....

occupied with my own trials and tribulations.

I knew innately that my father loved me, but the vivid dream

gave me the intellectual wisdom of his feeling toward me.

Love your families and don't expect anything in return for your love.

One day it will all come back to you in triplicate.